Means for buoying up vessels



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. n. T. TRAVIS.

MEANS FDR BUOYING UP VESSELS.

No. 387,933. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UEEicE.

\VILLIAM D. T. TRAVIS, OF BURLINGTON, NFAV JERSEY.

MEANS FOR BUOYING UP VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,933, dated August14, 1888.

Application filed March 29, 1688.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itkno-wn that l, \VILLIAM D. T. Tnnvrs, of Burlington, in the countyof Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means of Buoying Up Vessels, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in means of buoying up vesselsto prevent them from sinking, which consists, in general, of a system ofcollapsible buoys attached to the vessel and connected with a compressedair or other gas supply on the vessel, whereby they may be inflated whenneeded.

The object of my improvement is to provide for the ready adjustment ofthe buoys for use, for their secure and safe support when so adjusted,and for their ready return to an inactive position when not needed; andto this end the invention consists of a novel construction andcombination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described, andas distinctly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of avessel provided with my improved buoyingdevices in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,part being broken out. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional viewshowing the buoying devices arranged for use on one side of the vessel,and folded up on the other side thereof.

Along either side of the vessel A,which may be of any description, arearranged series of outside collapsible buoys, B, of rubber or kindredmaterial, which are connected by fleXible branch pipes Oto a common mainpipe, D, running along, and, by preference, permanently attached to, thecorresponding side of the vessels deck. Other series of similarcollapsible buoys, E, are preferably also arranged interiorly alongeither side of the vessel, and are all connected by branch pipesFand tocorresponding main pipes G. The main pipes G and D are all connected toacornmon receiver, H, which it is preferred to supply with air underpressure by means of an air-pump, I, connected thereto by a pipe, J.

Serial No. 209,735. (Nonn.1lcl.l

The air-pump i. may be arranged to be operated by a steam or olhermotor, K, which, further, may be connected with, so as to operate, a\vater'f'orce pump, L, for use in extinguishing fires or for otherpurposes.

All the pipes G, D, and J, leading into the receiver 11, are providedthere-at with valves Min such a manner that the distribution of thecompressed air may be controlled by a single person, so as to inflatesuch of the series of buoys as may be desired; and, in addition, eachbranch pipe 0 in communication with an outside buoy, 5,is provided witha valve, N, so that in case of disabling injury to said buoy it maybequickly cut oif from the main circuit and the efficiency of theremaining buoys thus be unimpaired.

Over each outside buoy, B, is arranged and to it attached a curvedcap,O,which is hinged to the side of the vesscl,so that it can be swungdown to cover, protect, and support the buoy when the latter isinflated, or folded against the vessels side,so as to protect the buoywhen the same is collapsed.

Two or more bars, I, are pivotaily con* nected to the outer part of eachcap 0, and swinging abutments Q, adapted to engage and hold the freeends of the bars, are attached to the outside of the vessel near thedeck in such a manner that the bars can be conveniently arranged to holdthe cap, and hence the buoy, firmly in a working position, as shown atthe right of Fig. 3.

A. curved shield, R, attached to and adapted to cover and protect theunder side of each buoy when inflated, is hinged to each cap 0, and isconnected to the same by a chain, S, so that the buoy will be completelyinclosed and protected from possible rupture when inflated, and thatwhen the buoy is emptied and the cap folded against the vessel, asbefore described, the collapsed buoy will be closely embraced betweenthe cap and the shield folded thereupon, as shown at the left of Fig. 3.

The caps or shields over the buoys may be conveniently utilized for thesupport of oilcans or feeders to calm. the waves and more certainlyprevent injury to the buoys.

Any suitable tackle may be employed for raising and lowering the cap andshield from the deck, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a vessel, of a collapsible gas-buoy arranged onthe outside of the vessel, a folding cap adapted to cover the top of thebuoy, and a folding shield to protect the under side of the buoy, thesaid cap and shield being attached to the vessel, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with a vessel and a collapsible buoy arranged on theoutside of the same, of a pointed protector for the buoy hinged to thevessel, and a brace hinged to the protector and adapted to engage anabutment on the vessel, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. A protector for collapsible buoys for vessels, consisting of acap-plate adapted to be hinged to the vessel, and a shield or bottomplate hinged to the cap-plate and having its free end connected to saidcap by a flexible connection, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a vessel and a collapsible gas-buoy connectedto the sazne, of a buoy-covering cap hinged to the vessel, a buoy-shieldhinged to the cap, a flexible connection between the cap and shield, andmeans for adjusting and supporting the cap and shield, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with a vessel, of a curved cap and shield connectedto the vessel and adapted to fold together and to embrace a collapsiblebuoy, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM I). T. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. HENRY, JULIA O. SMITIL

